you all did right in not coming. It was a dear visit to James B. Cunningham and might a been worse if any of you had come. So again and for the last time, I say and drop the subject here to name again, and I do not expect to see any of you till I meet you all in Centralia. Which I pray God all you and I may live to see that happy day. I wrote a letter to you, two to Leander, and one to Rebecca in the last four days, one to James five days ago and one last night. So you see I have wrote all I know and a little more. We hear all kind of news from Island no. ten. This evening we heard it was taken, with a large number of prisoners. We hear again tonight it was not taken. It is not believed it is taken by but very few. In fact, by none, only the fools. We are lying here doing nothing but drilling. I do not know why we do not make a move, but I think we are waiting on them to take Island. I hear sometimes Buell is within six miles of here with a large force, then I hear again he is at Nashville with all his force. I heard McKee say today that Brig Gen J. A. McClernand was made a Major General or would soon be made one in a short time, without doubt. Why such men are made Major Generals, I cannot see. He did nothing at Ft. Donelson only keep out of danger and let us fight ten times our number. We did the fighting and such and he gets the praise and pay and in no danger. I see him two or three times a day. McKee also said Col Wallace was or would be made a Brig General. Tell John it is all the Capt and we both can do to get the boys out on Co. or battalion drill. We have so little duty to do since we came here. They would rather go on extra duty as drill. Co Drill today we could only get fourteen men out. McKee told me to put the rest on extra duty and drill them.Enlistment details:
McClernand, John
©2006 C.S. Parkinson
